Is there such thing as a plus-sized athlete?

kmaclam wrote:

LetsGetIt wrote:

Her marathon was over 7 hours I’m sorry but that’s not running

So are you saying you could throw 100lbs. in a backpack and crush the 7 hour mark in a marathon? Seriously. What do you think you could manage? 6 hours?

I would do much shorter distances until my fitness was at a level that didn’t keep roads closed for obscene amounts of time to satisfy my narcissism.

I don't feel like reading this whole thread so someone has probably already brought this up, but NFL lineman are absolute athletic freaks of nature. All are 300+ pounds, freakishly strong and agile, and most can run a 40 in high 4/low 5 second range.

Just crazy physical ability for such large guys.

kmaclam wrote:

LetsGetIt wrote:

Her marathon was over 7 hours I’m sorry but that’s not running

So are you saying you could throw 100lbs. in a backpack and crush the 7 hour mark in a marathon? Seriously. What do you think you could manage? 6 hours?

Those are 16 minute miles. I think by any definition that's walking, not running.

huh what wrote:

kmaclam wrote:

So are you saying you could throw 100lbs. in a backpack and crush the 7 hour mark in a marathon? Seriously. What do you think you could manage? 6 hours?

Those are 16 minute miles. I think by any definition that's walking, not running.

I might be able to do a 6 hour mary giving a 7th grader a piggy back ride. It would surely suck, but it would be an interesting challenge.

Im serious wrote:

huh what wrote:

Those are 16 minute miles. I think by any definition that's walking, not running.

I might be able to do a 6 hour mary giving a 7th grader a piggy back ride. It would surely suck, but it would be an interesting challenge.

"Suck"?!? Try - Not Happening.

kmaclam wrote:

LetsGetIt wrote:

Her marathon was over 7 hours I’m sorry but that’s not running

So are you saying you could throw 100lbs. in a backpack and crush the 7 hour mark in a marathon? Seriously. What do you think you could manage? 6 hours?

Easily. But it would be dumb and terrible for my joints, as it is for her.

kmaclam wrote:

LetsGetIt wrote:

Her marathon was over 7 hours I’m sorry but that’s not running

So are you saying you could throw 100lbs. in a backpack and crush the 7 hour mark in a marathon? Seriously. What do you think you could manage? 6 hours?

This response isn't a fair comparison to the post that it quoted.

Traveling 26.2 miles in 6-7 hours is certainly walkable. A person wouldn't need to run at all to get to the end in that time.

I'm heavy, but could I put on a 100 lb. backpack and travel 26.2 miles on foot in less than 6 hours? I think that I could do that (I'm not sure that I could), but 100 lbs. is a heck of a lot of weight to carry that distance.

The big caveat is that I don't walk and run around every second of the day with that backpack. If I did that, I would have a much better chance. But if I was preparing myself to travel 26.2 miles on foot and that metaphorical backpack was my gut, then the backpack wouldn't weigh 100 lbs. anymore by the time I started my "big feat day" where I walk 26.s miles with the back pack.

Also: sure there is such thing as plus-sized athletes, but they're usually called heavyweights.

In combat sports, you need weight classes because height can be a big factor that separates competitors and causes serious danger to smaller competitors. This creates scenarios where an athlete may want to gain or cut weight to fit into a different weight class.

In non-combat sports there is no need for weight classes because athletes of any height can be competitive at their optimal weight, which can vary widely.

So, you don't need to call the heaviest competitor, who also happens to be the tallest competitor, a heavyweight because they can be competitive against everyone else without any handicap or weight class.

What do you mean "plus size"? Lebron James is plus size compared to the average man and so are a lot of athletes in the NFL and NBA. I would definitely consider Shaq to be plus size in his prime.

Sumo wrestlers

rolling poly wrote:

What do you mean "plus size"? Lebron James is plus size compared to the average man and so are a lot of athletes in the NFL and NBA. I would definitely consider Shaq to be plus size in his prime.

Hence why weight isn’t a good delineator. LeBron and Shaq are heavy but obviously they aren’t fat losers like the woman in the article. There are heavy people who are great athletes. Nobody shames them. Then there are heavy people who suck at everything and demand that the rest of us acknowledge and congratulate their ‘accomplishments.’ Not the same thing.

Yes, there are plus sized athletes. Just look at football, field hockey, baseball, a local road race and more. BMI isn’t accurate and more for health insurance purposes. I didn’t read the article but it’s geared towards those that run for enjoyment, health reasons, or are competitive with themselves. Runners World publishes articles that appeal to a wide range of runners. The point is to get people out and moving...and spend money on the magazine of course. Either skip over these articles or find a different magazine...running times maybe?

rolling poly wrote:

What do you mean "plus size"? Lebron James is plus size compared to the average man and so are a lot of athletes in the NFL and NBA. I would definitely consider Shaq to be plus size in his prime.

It’s not what I mean. It’s what the article means. I didn’t make the claim.

Big'un wrote:

In non-combat sports there is no need for weight classes because athletes of any height can be competitive at their optimal weight, which can vary widely.

Ummm... ever heard of weightlifting?

I follow her on social media. I find her to be very "athletic," but not a very good "runner." And by that, as already pointed out shes not fast and she won't ever be but I dont think thats her goal.

She's super strong, has dynamic flexibility and also is well rounded in terms of the workouts she does; combining strength plus endurance. She also has a chronic health condition.

If the definition of 'athletic' is 'fast runner' who is also 'typically thin' then no. She doesn't fit that mold. But, that's a pretty narrow definition!

biggest question1 wrote:

I follow her on social media. I find her to be very "athletic," but not a very good "runner." And by that, as already pointed out shes not fast and she won't ever be but I dont think thats her goal.

She's super strong, has dynamic flexibility and also is well rounded in terms of the workouts she does; combining strength plus endurance. She also has a chronic health condition.

If the definition of 'athletic' is 'fast runner' who is also 'typically thin' then no. She doesn't fit that mold. But, that's a pretty narrow definition!

I'm pretty sure that this is wrong. She is a professional runner. Her primary goal must surely be to be a fast runner.

You seem to be implying that it's okay for her to underperform in running because she is even more focused on some other athletic endeavor than running. I'm pretty sure she id focused on running. It's not like she's also out there competing in something like the cross-fit games.

She's not a professional runner. She has citizenship level sponsorships as well as deals bc she is an influencer. That isnt the same as a professional athlete who has to say start and or podium in a world majors or their contract will be terminated.

I think her goals are certainly to get fast-ER at running for where she is, but relatively speaking she is not at the top of the stage.

In terms of her sponsorships, she has them, so no, I don't think she's "underperforming" id say she looks pretty freaking smart bc she's using the current athletic model to her advantage. Many of us plebs could take a page from her instead of criticizing her body we could look and see how to use our own bodies to our financial advantage instead of toiling away at crappy jobs and running as a side gig.

Also, she obviously doesn't just run as I said of you look at her social. She does multiple athletic endeavors, including biathlon, triathlon etc. Her title on her Instagram is "athlete" not "runner"

She's fat and it should be known. When someone on my team comments on my weight, I take it and work more. All you fat shaming activists should reconsider your thoughts.